Nice!
two important details that should be added for newbies like me :
you should add "django.core.context_processors.request" to your TEMPLATE_CONTEXT_PROCESSORS in settings.py (TEMPLATE_CONTEXT_PROCESSORS might have to be added -> https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.5/ref/settings/#std:setting-TEMPLATE_CONTEXT_PROCESSORS
when not using namespaced route names, you still need the colon : {% active request ":home" %}